Despite draw with Hapoel Beersheba, Beitar Jerusalem still in title race
THE 1-1 draw this week between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Beersheba at Teddy Stadium kept the Southern Reds in first place by two points with three matches left. (photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN) Elsewhere around the league, Hapoel Tel Aviv edged Hapoel Petah Tikva 1-0 thanks to Mor Buskila’s 74th-minute winner, clinching European qualification for next season. Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Beersheba played to a dramatic 1-1 draw at Teddy Stadium in a match that may not have crowned a champion, but certainly left the Southern Reds firmly in the driver’s seat with just three games remaining in the season.
When Yarden Shua’s blistering strike flew past Ofir Marciano and into the Beersheba goal in the 78th minute, it felt as though a massive weight had been lifted off the shoulders of the Beitar faithful. For the first time all season, the yellow-and-black had finally taken a lead against their direct title rivals. In their fourth meeting of the campaign, Barak Itzhaki’s squad had finally broken through and looked poised to earn a statement victory that would have sent them to the top of the table with destiny fully in their own hands.
Instead, the fairy tale ending was short-lived. Just minutes after Shua sent Teddy Stadium into ecstasy, Beersheba responded like a championship-caliber side. Luka Gadrani failed to clear the danger inside the box, and Kings Kangwa punished the mistake, firing home the equalizer in the 81st minute past Miguel Silva to stun the 30,000 supporters into silence.
While Ron Kozuk’s side couldn’t find a winner, the draw was enough to keep Beersheba two points clear atop the table and firmly in control of its own fate after having fallen just short to Maccabi Tel Aviv in last season’s title race. The visitors probably should never have found themselves trailing in the first place. Beersheba controlled much of the opening 70 minutes and dictated the pace of play, but Itzhaki’s side came alive late in the match and began creating the kinds of opportunities they had struggled to produce for most of the evening.
BEITAR JERUSALEM players are primed for a season-defining clash on Tuesday against Hapoel Beersheba at Teddy Stadium that could determine the title. (credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN) The game itself was rough and tumble, not necessarily the highest quality football of the season, but perhaps that was to be expected with teams playing every three to four days at this stage of the campaign. The level may have suffered, but every side in the championship playoff is dealing with the same physical and mental demands.
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